Category Archives: Book Launching

Last February 2, 2018, the UP Center for Integrative Studies (UP CIDS) Program on Alternative Development (UPAD) and the Program on Social and Political Change (PSPC), the UP Third World Studies Center, the UP Department of Political Science, and the Laban ng Masa held the Philippine book launch of A Time to Rise: Collective Memoirs of the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP).

A Time to Rise, which is more than a two-decade undertaking according to Editor Cindy Domingo, not only narrates the stories of activism against the dictatorship in the Philippines – it also brings into light the role of KDP in fighting racism, fascism and imperialism in the US. The book chronicles the forty-three accounts of the Union of Democratic Filipinos during the politically turbulent 1970s and ‘80s, the full and multifaceted picture of KDP recruitment, organizing, and training, and women’s central role in the organization and its leadership.

Dr. Maria Victoria R. Raquiza from the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, Social Watch – Philippines, and Laban ng Masa, served as the moderator of the Philippine book launch. She invited Dr. Eduardo C. Tadem, the Co-Convenor of UPAD, current President of the Freedom from Debt Coalition, and former Professor of the UP Asian Center to give the welcome remarks.

Dr. Eduardo Tadem acknowledged the presence of UP CIDS Executive Director Dr. Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem, UPCIDS Program on Social and Political Change Co-Convenor and the UP Department of Political Science Chairperson Dr. Maria Ela L. Atienza, UP Third World Studies Director Dr. Ricardo Jose, and the attendees comprised of former KDP members and their families and friends, civil society organizations, academics, and students.

Armin Alforque’s commentary on Philippine political exiles

The book launch began with Mr. Armin Alforque’s commentary on Filipino political exiles, which he defined as “anyone who, because of political conditions in the Philippines, had to leave the Philippines or had left previous to those conditions and could no longer go back.” Albeit miles away from the Philippines, the Philippine international community in the US maintained their ties with the government and were affected by the declaration of Martial Law. The impact however varied across communities because of the broad spectrum of political involvement where the formation of KDP was the consolidation of the left wing movement.

Mr. Alforque also showed pictures of the KDP activities from a press release of their Anti-Marcos Coalition where several Filipino exiles were signatory to and a photo of Filipino exiles welcoming visiting human rights lawyers from the Philippines.

He also highlighted the important role that Filipino exiles play even when overseas. Because of the natural support from the US – Filipino community, the Filipino political exile and their contributions became much stronger, vibrant, and meaningful. “Something that perhaps those that would read this book and the lessons it has might want to research and study in terms of relevance.”

Mr. Alforque stressed that “a Filipino exile should play a key role in the discussion taking place here in the Philippines event though they’re abroad.” Their participation in the movement is conditioned by the community they are in and without the support of the community, that person – that exile – wouldn’t be as effective.

Cindy Domingo on the KDP’s Book Project

Cindy Domingo, one of the editors of the book, shared the importance of writing about the Philippine-American experience because there are “rows and rows of books about the Vietnamese-American and Chinese-American books but very little of Philippine-American books and international solidarity.” She hoped that this book will add to the understanding and fight the stereotype of Filipinos as passive people. “We have a history of organizing against racism, fascism, and imperialism. We are organizers and we fight against the isms that oppress us.”

The KDP Book Project also envisions to serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Filipino-Americans and Asian-Americans to continue the fight against discrimination and fascism and strengthen the solidarity of Filipinos around the world. The book also speaks of the particular experience of Filipino-Americans and how they negotiate these identities.

According to Ms. Domingo, A Time to Rise is not a comprehensive history of the KDP. Instead, it is a collection of personal accounts of the people involved in the movement. In writing these personal stories, the book turned into a corpus of moving pieces about the sacrifices people made, their highs and lows, and their hopes and disappointments in the movement. These reflections covered a moment, a day, and even years in the movement.

Aside from the personal stories the book also included the struggles that the organization itself faced: conflicts with the Philippine Left during the post-Aquino assassination, surveillance and harassment from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Philippine Government under the “Philippine Infiltration Plan.”

Ms. Domingo described the organization as “unusual” where in they advocated for socialism in the context of the US: the right to housing and the right to be educated about the history of Philippine – American communities, the struggle for representation, US imperialism in the Philippines – and the freedom from discrimination. The organization also had dual nature in its composition of Filipino exiles, Filipino – Americans, old people, young people, Japanese – Americans which they brought together under its program. One program of KDP was its theoretical school that met every year “where they laid the basis to continue to analyze the changing political situations of the Philippines and the US.”

After Ms. Domingo, two excerpts from the book were read. “Defending Nurses — I’d Do it Again” by Esther Hipol Simpson, a leading member of KDP chapter in Chicago and a registered nurse, who lobbied against the deportation of H-1 Visa nurses during the late 1970s, a time where nurses were facing deportation for having failed their board licensure examinations. The second excerpt was from Edwin Batongbacal’s “No Regrets” which began with the question “Why was I ever drawn into the movement?”

Ricardo Jose: Commentary on A Time to Rise: Collective Memoirs of the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP)

To end the program, Dr. Ricardo Jose of the UP Third World Studies Center and the UP Department of History gave a brief commentary on the book. He described the book as “intensely personal, riveting, and revealing” as it gives us a glimpse of the lives led by people who were united by a common concern for country and for the community. “

Dr. Jose hopes for the release of a Philippine edition of the book and, perhaps, a Filipino edition as well. This book provides a different perspective on the anti-Marcos struggle that needed to be written about and deserves to be read especially by Filipinos in the Philippines and around the world.

In the midst of the chairmanship of the Philippines in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UPCIDS), the UP Asian Center (UPAC), and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) hosted a forum and book launch of The ASEAN Drama: Half a Century and Still Unfolding at the GT-Toyota Asian Center on May 17, 2017.

UPAC Dean Dr. Joefe B. Santarita welcomed the guests while VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Ma. Cynthia Rose B. Bautista delivered a message from UP President Danilo L. Concepcion. Former Permanent Representative to the UN Lauro L. Baja, Jr. delivered his keynote speech titled “ASEAN: The Other Side of Midnight,” where he addressed the chairmanship of the Philippines in the 50th year of the ASEAN, and past and possible ways forward of the ASEAN. In the subsequent reaction Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta, former Ambassador to ASEAN and former ASEAN Deputy Secretary-Genera, gave his thoughts on pressing matters in the ASEAN and on the book The ASEAN Drama. An open forum followed after the speeches of the former ambassadors.

DAP President Dr. Elba S. Cruz was also in attendance and delivered a message of support. UPCIDS Executive Director Dr. Edna E.A. Co gave a brief background of the book project and each author gave quick summaries of their respective chapters. Book signing and cocktails capped the event. Dr. Jean Franco of the Department of Political Science served as the forum and book launch’s master of ceremonies.

The book, published by UPCIDS and DAP, is described as a “forthright scrutiny of ASEAN by academics and diplomatic practitioners.”

Copies of the book are available at the UPCIDS at PHP 400.00 each. For purchase inquiries, please contact Joseph Cruzado at [email protected]

The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS), in partnership with the UP Asian Center and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), will host a forum and book launch, The ASEAN Drama: Half a Century and Still Unfolding, on 17 May 2017, 2 p.m. at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Ambassador Lauro L. Baja, Jr., former Permanent Representative to the United Nations for the Republic of the Philippines, will serve as the key resource person in the forum.

The ASEAN Drama: Half a Century and Still Unfolding contains articles with in-depth analyses of ASEAN matters such as human rights, economic integration, and identity and citizenship, which all contribute to broader ASEAN scholarship. The book will be available at the event at a special launch price of PHP 350.00.

As the venue has limited seating capacity, accommodation of guests will be on a first-come, first-served basis. It would be best to confirm your attendance ahead by calling the UP Center for Integrative Studies at 981-8500 loc. 4266 to 68 or by sending an email to [email protected].

The abstracts of the chapters in The ASEAN Drama: Half a Century and Still Unfolding may be viewed below:

“Isyu ngayon ang graft and corruption sa gobyerno. Pero sino ang ating sisingilin? Paano natin sila sisingilin (Graft and corruption in the government is a hot-button issue today. But whom do we hold accountable? How do we hold them accountable)?” said Atty. Marilyn Barua Yap, former secretary general in the House of Representatives, in her message at the launch of her book Accountability in Congress at UP Balay Kalinaw on September 22, 2016. The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UPCIDS) and the UP Law Center sponsored the event.

Deputy Secretary General Atty. Arlene C. Dada-Arnaldo delivered the program’s invocation while UP College of Law Dean Atty. Danilo L. Concepcion and UP Vice President for Public Affairs and UPCIDS Executive Director Edna E.A. Co delivered introductory messages. Dr. J. Prosero E. De Vera of the Commission on Higher Education gave the closing remarks. Atty. Dot Gancayco served as the program’s master of ceremonies.

Accountability in Congress, based on Atty. Yap’s dissertation at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, introduces a framework for accountability in the legislature as well as systems and mechanisms for the framework’s implementation and enforcement. It also presents a Legislative Performance Report Card which features the following as performance indicators: local bills authored, national bills authored, resolutions authored, attendance, plenary participation, nominal/roll care vote on bills, and nominal/roll call vote on joint resolutions.

The book is considered a pioneering work in the literature of legislative accountability.

Copies of the book will be made available at the UPCIDS. For purchase inquiries, please contact Joseph Cruzado at [email protected]

Dr. Marieta Sumagaysay of UP Visayas delivers her reaction to the reports in the forum

The government is eyeing to complete its housing efforts for communities affected by typhoon Haiyan—one of the strongest storms to make landfall in recent history—in December 2013. An accountability tool could help President Rodrigo Duterte improve the quality and ensure the adequacy of the rest of the housing units that will be distributed to families this year.

The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UPCIDS) highlighted this in the forum “Housing and Challenges to Housing Service Delivery under the Duterte Administration,” held on September 1 at Microtel-UP Technohub, Quezon City.

“Assessing the accountability of government officials and other actors in the provision of shelter post-disaster will enable President Rodrigo Duterte and our new housing czar, vice president Leni Robredo, to not only prevent the misuse of our resources but will also make housing development a barometer for true public service,” said Dr. Edna E.A. Co, UPCIDS executive director.

UPCIDS, in their book “Building Back Better: A Democratic Accountability Assessment of Service Delivery After Typhoon Haiyan,” presented lessons and key recommendations on assessing the democratic accountability of duty bearers—the national and local government units, and claim holders—the communities, in addressing the housing needs in Guiuan, Eastern Samar and Palo, Leyte; these are areas most devastated by Haiyan in 2013.

In the book, UPCIDS pointed out the important role of local government units (LGUs) in setting up a mechanism to respond to disaster needs and incorporate the accountability mechanisms of answerability, responsiveness and enforceability in service delivery in disaster management.
The above principles complement the framework developed by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), an intergovernmental organization that supports democratic reforms.

The UPCIDS hopes that their assessment could encourage a “rethinking of how traditional tools for accountability such as user outreach, ad hoc user meetings, publication of performance data and others could be introduced and better communicated and disseminated.”

To read the blow-by-blow updates from the forum and book launch, please visit the Twitter page of CIDS (@upcids) or check the hashtag #DuterteHousing.